Chapter 26
Trevor was already unlocking the front door of the Nicholsons’ shop as Kat ran across the road, barely pausing to check for traffic. ‘Dad, wait!’ she called out.
The three men stopped and turned to face her. Trevor greeted her with his usual beaming smile, her dad with wide-eyed panic that quickly morphed into a weak, guilty smile.
Simon Partridge, the Java Brava area manager, raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised to see her.
He recovered quickly, offering her his hand and a polite smile.
‘Katrina, I was led to believe you were indisposed and therefore not able to join us today.’ The smile turned wintery as he shot a look at her father.
Kat shook his hand out of politeness, but spoke to her dad. ‘Can we have a minute, please?’
‘Simon doesn’t have a lot of time, Kat, can we do this later, please?’
‘No, I think here and now is just fine.’
Her father sent a sickly, apologetic smile towards his boss. ‘Please, Simon, you and Trevor go on ahead and I’ll be with you in just a moment.’
‘Yes, do come on in,’ Trevor said, pushing the door open and gesturing for Simon to enter. ‘As I’m sure you’ll appreciate, this is a prime bit of real estate in a very sought-after location…’ His sales pitch faded away as he walked inside.
When Simon hesitated, Gavin placed a hand on his arm and urged him towards the door. ‘Really, it’s a family matter. Give me two minutes and I’ll be with you.’
The moment Simon had reluctantly walked inside, Kat’s father rounded on her. ‘What on earth do you think you are doing, embarrassing me like that in front of Simon?’
‘What on earth do you think you’re doing?’ Kat shot back. ‘I thought we’d settled this when I told you I wasn’t interested in running a second franchise?’
Her father sighed and he seemed to slump into himself like a deflated balloon.
‘I’d already pitched the idea to Simon before Christmas because I assumed you’d be on board with it.
I couldn’t back out without losing face and it’s already been a difficult year for the business so I needed something to prove myself. ’
‘What are you talking about? You never said anything to me about there being a problem.’
‘Profits are down year on year and that’s never a good thing in a business like ours.’
Kat frowned. ‘But how are they down? I don’t recall there being noticeably fewer customers over the past year than previous ones?’
‘I know, but our costs are higher and Java Brava have set some challenging targets for the year.’
‘But everyone’s costs are higher, that’s down to the economy and the pressure on energy prices. Surely every franchise across the board must be in the same boat.’
Her father glanced down at his feet. ‘I’ve had to pay extra wages to cover for your mother’s increased absences and the recent Christmas and Valentine’s promotions haven’t done as well as I’d hoped.’
‘That’s because the products they introduced were completely gopping!
No one who tried one of those disgusting concoctions came back for a second helping.
’ Kat rubbed at the sudden ache between her brows.
‘I didn’t think about it costing you extra to cover for Mum.
’ Kat was on a standard salary so replacing her hours like-for-like wouldn’t cost any more, but her parents had always taken a profit share from the business rather than a wage. ‘Oh, Dad, you should’ve told me!’
He gave her a half-amused, half-frustrated look. ‘From the daughter who has repeatedly berated me these past few weeks for overburdening her.’
Kat sighed. ‘I suppose that’s true, but still I hate to know you’ve been struggling. If things are bad, how on earth is a second franchise going to help, though?’
‘You heard what Trevor said about this being a prime site. The footfall here is the best in the village. Even with the smaller square footage I’d make more in a day at the height of the summer season than we take in the other shop most off-season weeks.
I’ve got enough in savings to cover the deposit.
It’s a risk, but one I simply have to take. ’
Sadness overwhelmed her. ‘None of this would be a problem if you’d just be honest with Mum about things.
How much did you spend on that stupid Watts Up bike, anyway?
If you didn’t give in to her all the time, you wouldn’t be in this mess.
’ Kat cut herself off with a shake of her head.
If it hadn’t been the bike, it would’ve been something else.
Her mum was never going to change as long as her dad kept letting her get away with it.
She took a step closer and touched her father’s arm. ‘I don’t want to fight with you about this, Dad, and I’m sorry things are in such a mess but this isn’t the way. Those savings are for your retirement. You shouldn’t be putting everything on the line.’
She glanced behind her and her stomach dropped at the sight of Harry, Chloe and the others watching them from the other side of the street.
Harry looked furious, and she could only imagine what he was thinking.
Damn, she should’ve just come clean to him when he first mentioned the shop as being the base for the cookery school.
She held up a couple of fingers to indicate she’d be two minutes and then she turned back to her father.
‘I need to go, Dad. Let’s talk more about this later. ’
Her father’s expression darkened. ‘You really do care more about what your friends think, don’t you?’
‘Come on, Dad, don’t be like that.’
He waved her off as he stalked towards the shop. ‘Go and do whatever it is that’s so important and don’t worry about me. I gave you what you wanted, Kat, and accepted your decision to turn your back on us. Now please go away because I’m in the middle of a very important business meeting.’
‘Please don’t do this, Dad, I’m begging you.’ The words were out before she could stop them.
‘Begging me? Don’t be so childish, Kat. This is a business decision, nothing more, and if Issy can’t face a little bit of competition then The Cosy Coffee Pot can’t be up to much.’
‘It’s not about Issy.’ Kat closed the distance between them and lowered her voice. ‘It’s not just about Issy. Harry and I are planning to use the shop to open a cookery school.’
Her father’s eyes widened in disbelief. ‘You’re doing what?’
‘We’re going to set up a cookery school and use the money we make from guests who attend courses to fund extra catering training places for young people who live in the village.
You know how tough it is around here for kids to find jobs; this is our chance to build a business that will contribute something positive to the community.
This is really important to me, Dad.’ She placed a hand on his arm. ‘He’s really important to me.’
He glanced over her shoulder across the street then back at her. ‘You and Harry Penrose? I can’t believe you’re wasting your time with someone like him.’
‘You don’t have to like it, Dad, but this is what I want. Please, think again about this franchise.’
His eyes hardened. ‘So that’s why you aren’t willing to run it for me? You want to put the mockers on my plans to further your own.’
It made Kat sad he’d think her capable of that. ‘I didn’t know anything about Harry’s idea for the cookery school before I said no. I don’t want to work in the coffee shop, I never have.’
‘I’m sorry if the choices I’ve made to try and build a secure future for our family are such a disappointment to you, Katrina.’ His voice was as hard and flinty as his eyes.
‘Dad, please…’
He waved her off. ‘No, don’t start that begging nonsense again. I told you before, this is simply business. If you and that Penrose boy think you’ve got such a great idea then you’ll have to put up with the competition, same as everyone else.’ He turned his back and began walking towards the shop.
She felt sick. She should’ve never said anything to him about her and Harry’s plans. ‘If you can’t cover the hours at the coffee shop you’ve already got, how on earth do you think you’re going to manage to run two?’ Kat called after him.
Her father turned back to shoot another glare at her. ‘That’s not your problem, is it?’ He shut the door of the shop behind him, leaving her standing on her own.
Kat heaved a sigh and turned away to face her friends, who were still watching from the other side of the road.
God, she could only hope she didn’t make as much of a mess of this conversation as she just had with her dad.
Him intending to go ahead with the second franchise wasn’t a problem of her making, but the looks of confusion and anger she was facing right now most certainly were.
She crossed over and walked straight up to Harry.
‘I’m sorry, I should’ve said something to you sooner. ’
‘Said something about what?’ The frown line between his brows was etched deep. ‘What’s your dad doing in the Nicholsons’ shop, Kat?’
‘Let’s go back inside so I can explain in front of Issy. She needs to hear what I’ve got to say as well.’
As they were heading back inside, Anya touched Kat’s arm to draw her attention. ‘Whatever it is, it’ll be okay,’ her friend reassured her with a gentle smile. ‘I’ll cover for Issy so you won’t be interrupted, okay?’
‘Thanks.’
Anya slipped ahead and by the time Kat walked into the café she was already talking to Issy. Issy shot Kat a perplexed look, but unfastened her apron and set it to one side while Anya fetched herself a clean one from the back kitchen.
Instead of going back to the main table, Kat caught Harry’s eye and pointed to a smaller one in the corner.
‘Just the three of us is probably best.’ She would be honest with the others as well, but her father’s plans would impact Harry and Issy the most if he managed to pull them off and she didn’t want to be bombarded with dozens of questions from all sides until she was sure they understood everything.
Harry pulled out a chair and sank down on to it. ‘I’m not going to like this, am I?’